the harvard business review blog covers research from the university of sydney that finds that, “…enclosed private offices clearly outperformed open-plan layouts…” the guardian has better headline writers with their coverage of the study, “Open-plan offices were devised by Satan in the deepest caverns of hell”. the findings support previous research which found, “…collaboration-friendly environment with minimal cubicle separations “proved ineffective if the ability to focus was not also considered,” according to a new study by the design firm Gensler. “When focus is compromised in pursuit of collaboration, neither works well.”” if only robert probst inventor of the cubicle could see the current open office designs. he died regretting his contribution to what he considered a “monolithic insanity.”